The next stage of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) will come into force on January 1, 2024. Companies with more than 3,000 employees have been affected since the beginning of 2023, and from 2024 it will also apply to companies with more than 1,000 employees.
And at European level there are negotiations on corporate due diligence, which should take effect from 250 employees. The textile, shoe and fashion industry is under particular scrutiny. Because their global supply chains are complex and often associated with risks for people and the environment. Identifying and minimizing them often presents companies with particular challenges. Larger companies from the textile, shoe and fashion industry should therefore now deal with their supply chain at the latest!
Meanwhile there are also more experiences, assistance and publications around the topic LkSG. On the one hand, the report by the law firms Noerr and Grube/Pitzer/Konnertz-Häussler, commissioned by the HDE Handelsverband Deutschland, should be mentioned, which came to the conclusion that retailers are not responsible for compliance with human rights and environmental standards in the production of branded goods. On the other hand, BAFA recently published a new handout on cooperation in the supply chain, which denies that responsibility is shifted to the suppliers.
In order to provide affected and interested companies with assistance in coping with the upcoming tasks, the BTE is organizing a free webinar on October 25, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. Malte Drewes, consultant at the Business & Human Rights Helpdesk, provides online information about the regulatory requirements of corporate due diligence and about strategies for implementation in practice. He explains which instruments and tools help to anchor due diligence processes in the core business. The lecture will be supplemented by practical insights from the Deichmann company.
Participation is free of charge for all interested parties. Registration and further information on the BTE website www.bte.de, section: BTE events.